Bridge-game accessory



Nov. 18, 1930. 1... R. LADD BRIDGE GAME ACCESSORY Filed Aug. 22. 1929- 2 Sheets-Sheet l TIRDCELK Patented Nov. 18, 1930 mama menu:- LADD, or momma, ALABAMA BRIDGE-GAME ACCESSORY Application filed August 22, 1929. Serial No. 387,73}.

The principal object is to provide a holder for the dummy hand and the tricks taken by the respective sides.

The game of bridge requires that the partner of the person getting the bid shall drop out of the game during the time occupied in playing that respective hand, and that hand becomes what is known in the parlance of bridge, as the dummy.

This necessitates, 'after the first lead of the player on the left of the player who has been successful in getting the bid, that the dummy hand be exposed to the view of the other players in the game.

It is customary to arrange the cards in suits starting with the highest card in the respective suit, the rest of the cards bein arranged in sequence for the convenience of the bidder.

\Vhere the game is played on a porch, train, boat or other exposed place, the slightest breeze will cause the dummy hand to become disarranged and often blown off the table. This causes delay and extreme annoyance which I believe I have completely obviated in my invention.

It is also customary on the part of the person who has the bid, to collect the tricks which are represented by four cards each in what is known as a book consisting of six tricks.

The bid, which is based on one, two, three, four, five, six or seven tricks above the book, is represented usually, by the piling up separately of the tricks above the book in front of the bidder, the first six tricks being gathered together to form the book. The tricks which the op osite side have takenare usual ly placed in Front of one of the partners and piled so as to leave the tricks distinct from each other. This requires the placing of some object on the book and the tricks to keep the same from blowing away and often a bridge table will be littered with all sorts of 0d s and ends to keep the-loose cards from blowing away. This is unsightly, and extremely undesirable. i g a V Another object to provide apparatus which may be utilized interchangeably to hold the dummy 'handor the tricks. 7 g1, Other objects will be shown in the. specification and claims. I ,Referring to the drawings: I p

Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatusas used in connection with thebridge table; I I Figure 2 is a view of 'the'dummy hand holder in elevation; I Figure 3 is an edge planof the dummyhand holder shown in Fig'ure2;

Figure 4 is a modification inelevation of the trick holder; y p v, a

Figure 5 is a side. elevationv of ,the trick holder shown in Figure l; 1

Figure 6 is a modification in elevation of the dummy hand holder showing leaves detached; f

Figure 7 shows in elevation the modified form of dumm hand holder shown in Figure 6 in as :mble form;

Figure 8 is an edge view of the device shown in Figure 7; 1 v

Figure 9 is a perspective of one of the leaves removed;

Figure 10 is a detailed section of the means for securing the leaves together; and

Figure 11 is a perspective of the title card used in connection with the leaves.

In the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals Numeral 1 is a bridge layout on a table 2 wherein my apparatus is used consisting of a dummy hand holder 3, trick holders 4 and 5 and an extra deck holder 6.

The dummy hand holder. 3 has four tiers, each tier consisting of five spring clips .7, in which are placed, face up, suits 8 correpondin to the indicia 9 at the top of each tier. The trick holders 4 and 5 have onetier of spring clips 10. Balls 7' on the end of the spring clips 7 serve not only to hold cards 11 in place, but serve to project the cards 11 at an angle away from the dummy hand holder 3 and trick holders 4'so that the tier effect is better realized, and incidentally,

assembled greatly facilitates the removal of the cards 11 when it is desired to play them. A projzection 21 above the uppermost spring clips in each tier serves to space the cards in the topmost spring clip away from the dummy holder 3, and trick holders 4. The extra deck holder 6'is faced with a soft material 12, the

back 13 being made of metal with a hand hold of heavy metal 14. v

As shown in the modification, Figures 6, 7, 8, 9. 10 and 11, the dummy hand holder 3 may be formed of a series of trick holders 4 in the form of leaves-13, the two outside leaves 14' being slightly curved to present a more symmetrical appearance. The inner edges of three of the leaves 13 have a flan e 15 which fits over the adjacent edge 16 oi the leaves 17. Indentations 18 are formed in the flanges 15 to receive knobs 19 carried by spring clips 20, secured to the inner leaves 17 and outer leaves 14'. 7'

At the top of leaves 14' and 17116 projections 21 to hold cards 22 by means of perforations 24, said cards 22 having certain indicia 23 thereon. 'All of the leaves contain tiers of spring clips 7, the same as 7 and 10 in the preferred form;

As actually 186d, the dummy'hand holder 3 will be placed in front of the. layer who is to be dummy on that particullir hand and upon the person on his right leading, the respective suits will be placed in the spring clips 7 under the proper indicia 9, face up. The bidder and the two opponents have full view of the cards and at the same time they are securely held in place and arranged in tiers according to their suit and numerical value. As the tricks are taken, the bidder, upon taking six tricks, will form a book and place the same under the end of either of the trick holders 4 or 5, it being apparent that the trick holders 4 or 5 may be utilized to hold the tricks until the book is formed. In the meantime, the tricks taken by the opponents will be placed in the trick holder 5 and securely held in place by the spring clips 10.

This assures that the game will be played free from the annoyance so commonly experienced due to the wind and at the-same time, lends an added attraction to the bridge table.

Where the invention is to be made in the modified form, a large number of the inner leaves 17 may be purchased and the inner leaies-l7 used for trick holders, or, if desired, the dummy hand holder 3 may be formed with the leaves 13' unsecured to each other. This also permits of replacement should the leaves become soiled or injured without the necessity of buying an entire new set. V

By having projections 21 formed on each of the leaves 13, cards 22 carrying suitable indicia indicating suit or tricks may be placed on the projections-21 by reason of perforations 24 in the cards and securely held .7 in place, thus making the leaves interchange "hand holder, a plurality of spring clips arranged one below the other in a series of columns, 'each column adapted to hold and display a sult of cards 1n tiers according to sequence and numerical value each clip being formed at its free end with a ball head en-' gage-able with an adjacent card for spacing said card from the hand holder.

2. A bridge game accessorycomprising a hand holder, means for holding and spacing the cards including a plurality of spring clips, each clip having on its free end an outwardly directed card spacing member, said clips arranged one below the other in a series of columns and at such distance apart .that the spacing member of one clip engages the card held by the clip next below, each column adapted to hold and display a suit of cards in tiers according to sequence and numerical value.

3. A bridge game accessory, comprising a hand holder composed of a series of detachable interchangeable leaves detachably connected to one another having their side edges interengaging, means on each leaf for holding said leaves together, and-means on eachleaf to receive interchangeable indicium, a series of card retaining means in line with each indicium, said retaining means being adapted to hold and display suits of cards corresponding to the respective indicium in tiers according to sequence and numerical value, said indicium retaining means being positioned so as to space the top card of each suit from the hand holder. 4. A combined trick and hand holder for bridge comprising a plurality of leaves, means on each leaf for holding a plurality of cards in vertically arranged order, and means, for removably securing said leaves directly to one another at their side edges to forl a hand holder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LILLIAN RADCLIFF LADD. 

